The International Space Station is a platform for scientific research that requires one or more of the unusual conditions present in low Earth orbit (for example microgravity, (cosmic) -radiation and extreme temperatures). The primary fields of research include human research, space medicine, life sciences, physical sciences, astronomy and meteorology.International Space Station Overview Research and On-Orbit Facilities Non-Partner Participation. The 2005 NASA Authorization Act designated the American segment of the International Space Station as a national laboratory with the goal of increasing the use of the ISS by other federal agencies and the private sector. Released research has been presented and maid available through the ISS National Laboratory, summarized annually by NASA.

Research on the ISS improves knowledge about the effects of long-term space exposure on the human body. Subjects currently under study include muscle atrophy, bone loss, and fluid shift. The data will be used to determine whether space colonization and lengthy human spaceflight are feasible. As of 2006, data on bone loss and muscular atrophy suggest that there would be a significant risk of fractures and movement problems if astronauts landed on a planet after a lengthy interplanetary cruise (such as the six-month journey time required to fly to Mars). Large scale medical studies are conducted aboard the ISS via the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI). Prominent among these is the Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity study in which astronauts (including former ISS Commanders Leroy Chiao and Gennady Padalka) perform ultrasound scans under the guidance of remote experts. The study considers the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions in space. Usually, there is no physician on board the ISS, and diagnosis of medical conditions is a challenge. It is anticipated that remotely guided ultrasound scans will have application on Earth in emergency and rural care situations where access to a trained physician is difficult.

Researchers are investigating the effect of the station's near-weightless environment on the evolution, development, growth and internal processes of plants and animals. In response to some of this data, NASA wants to investigate microgravity's effects on the growth of three-dimensional, human-like tissues, and the unusual protein crystals that can be formed in space.

The investigation of the physics of fluids in microgravity will allow researchers to model the behaviour of fluids better. Because fluids can be almost completely combined in microgravity, physicists investigate fluids that do not mix well on Earth. In addition, an examination of reactions that are slowed by low gravity and temperatures will give scientists a deeper understanding of superconductivity.

The study of materials science is an important ISS research activity, with the objective of reaping economic benefits through the improvement of techniques used on the ground. Other areas of interest include the effect of the low gravity environment on combustion, through the study of the efficiency of burning and control of emissions and pollutants. These findings may improve our knowledge about energy production, and lead to economic and environmental benefits.

Remote sensing of the Earth, astronomy, and deep space research on the ISS have significantly increased during the 2010s after the completion of the US Orbital Segment in 2011. Throughout the more than 20 years of the ISS program researchers aboard the ISS and on the ground have examined aerosols, ozone, water vapor, and oxides in Earth's atmosphere, as well as the Sun, cosmic rays, cosmic dust, antimatter, and dark matter in the universe. Examples of Earth-viewing remote sensing experiments that have flown on the ISS are the Orbiting Carbon Observatory 3, ISS-RapidScat, HICO, ECOSTRESS, the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation, and the Cloud Aerosol Transport System. ISS-based astronomy telescopes and experiments include SOLAR, the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer, the Calorimetric Electron Telescope, the Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI), and the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer.NASA.gov . Retrieved 9 December

Since 2018, an example of automated manufacturing on the ISS is the testing across nine launches (as of April 2024) of a system to manufacture artificial retinas benefitted by the weightless environment. Progress has resulted in a goal of beginning human trials of the material as early as 2027.

ISS science facilities

International Space Station Facilities Research in Space 2013 and BeyondNASA.gov Facilities List by Discipline Emphasis Summary - NASA The ISS includes a number of modules devoted to scientific activity as well as other hardware designed for the same purpose.

Laboratory modules: Columbus Destiny Kibo or the Japanese Experiment Module Poisk or Mini-Research Module 2 Rassvet or Mini-Research Module 1 Nauka or Multipurpose Laboratory Module Scientific hardware not attached to any laboratory module: Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer or AMS Cupola ExPRESS Logistics Carriers or ELCExpedite the Processing of Experiments to the Space Station Logistics Carrier (ELC) External Stowage Platforms (ESP) Orbital Replacement Units SPARES Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER)

Columbus

Internal scientific hardware: Biological Experiment Laboratory (BioLab) European Drawer Rack (EDR) European Physiology Module (EPM) European Transportation Carrier (ETC) Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL) Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) Muscle Atrophy Research and Exercise System (MARES)

External scientific hardware: Columbus - External Payload Facility (Columbus-EPF) European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) Sun Monitoring on the External Payload Facility of Columbus (SOLAR)

Destiny

Fluids and Combustion Facility (FCF) Glenn Research Center (NASA) Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) Fluids Integrated Rack (FIR) ExPRESS Rack 1(EXPRESS_Rack_1) ExPRESS Rack 2A(EXPRESS_Rack_2A) ExPRESS Rack 3A(EXPRESS_Rack_3A) ExPRESS Rack 4(EXPRESS_Rack_4) ExPRESS Rack 5(EXPRESS_Rack_5) ExPRESS Rack 6(EXPRESS_Rack_6) ExPRESS Rack 7 ExPRESS Rack 8 Human Research Facility 1 (HRF-1) Human Research Facility 2 (HRF-2)Human Research Facility 2 (HRF-2) Materials Science Research Rack-1 (MSRR-1) Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) Window Observational Research Facility (WORF)

Planned for launch: Basic Express Rack 9B (ISS facility) | BER-9B ExPRESS Rack with only cooling and electrical power, eight Mid Deck Locker payloads. Launched on HTV-6 Basic Express Rack 10B (ISS facility) | BER-10B Second Glove Box, MSG-2 or Live Science Glovebox LSG

Kibo

Experiment Facilities onboard [sic] Kibo’s Pressurized Module (PM):Experiment - Kibo Japanese Experimental Module - JAXA . Kibo.jaxa.jp. Retrieved on 2010-08-14. Internal scientific hardware: Ryutai Experiment Rack (Ryutai)Ryutai Experiment Rack (Ryutai) Fluid Physics Experiment Facility (FPEF)Fluid Physics Experiment Facility (FPEF) - JAXA Solution Crystallization Observation Facility (SCOF)Solution Crystallization Observation Facility (SCOF) - JAXA Protein Crystallization Research Facility (PCRF)Protein Crystallization Research Facility (PCRF) - JAXA Image Processing Unit (IPU)Image Processing Unit (IPU) - JAXA Kobairo Rack : Gradient Heating Furnace (GHF)Gradient Heating Furnace (GHF) - JAXA Saibo Experiment Rack (Saibo)Saibo Experiment Rack (Saibo) Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF)Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) Clean Bench (CB)Clean Bench (CB) Lab Support Equipments and other smaller instruments The Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for the International Space Station (MELFI) Biological Experiment Unit (BEU)Biological Experiment Unit (BEU) - JAXA High Definition TeleVision transmitting system (HDTV)High Definition TeleVision transmitting system (HDTV) - JAXA Passive Dosimeter for Life Science Experiments in Space (PADLES)Passive Dosimeter for Life Science Experiments in Space (PADLES) - JAXA Human Research Facility Holter MonitorSpecification of JAXA Holter ECG Payload Laptop Terminal (PLT)Payload Laptop Terminal (PLT) Microgravity Measurement Apparatus (MMA) Utility DC/DC Converter Unit (UDC):Experiment - Kibo Japanese Experimental Module - JAXA . Kibo.jaxa.jp (2009-10-16). Retrieved on 2010-08-14. Microgravity Measurement Apparatus (MMA), Utility DC/DC Converter Unit (UDC) External scientific hardware: Japanese Experiment Module - Exposed FacilityJapanese Experiment Module - Exposed Facility (JEM-EF)

Poisk

Multipurpose workstation (MWS)

ISS small hardware Actiwatch (Actiwatch)Actiwatch (Actiwatch) BioServe Culture Apparatus (BCA)BioServe Culture Apparatus (BCA) Biological Research in Canisters for OptiCells (BRIC-Opti)Biological Research in Canisters for OptiCells (BRIC-Opti) Human Research Facility Continuous Blood Pressure Device (CBPD)Human Research Facility Continuous Blood Pressure Device (CBPD) Hand Grip Dynamometer Pinch Force Dynamometer (HGD-PFD)NASA - Hand Grip Dynamometer?Pinch Force Dynamometer (HGD-PFD). Nasa.gov (2010-07-31). Retrieved on 2010-08-14. Human Research Facility Holter Monitor (Holter)Human Research Facility Holter Monitor (Holter) Kennedy Space Center Fixation Tube (KFT)Kennedy Space Center Fixation Tube (KFT) Portable Clinical Blood Analyzer - i-STAT (PCBA)Portable Clinical Blood Analyzer - i-STAT (PCBA) Radiation Area Monitor (RAM)Radiation Area Monitor (RAM) Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC)Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC) Urine Monitoring System (UMS)Urine Monitoring System (UMS) Vegetable Production System (Veggie)

ISS sub-rack NASA - Facilities List by Hardware Type Advanced Biological Research System (ABRS)Advanced Biological Research System Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility (APCF)Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility ARCTIC Refrigerator-Freezer (ARCTIC)ARCTIC Refrigerator-Freezer (ARCTIC) Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller (BSTC)Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller (BSTC) Biotechnology Temperature Refrigerator (BTR)Biotechnology Temperature Refrigerator (BTR) Boiling Experiment Facility (BXF)Boiling Experiment Facility (BXF) - NASA Clean Bench (CB)Clean Bench (CB) - NASA Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF)Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) - NASA Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA)Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA)- NASA Commercial Plant Biotechnology Facility (CPBF)Commercial Plant Biotechnology Facility (CPBF) - NASA Commercial Refrigerator Incubator Module - Modified (CRIM-M)Commercial Refrigerator Incubator Module - Modified (CRIM-M) - NASA European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS)European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) - NASA Fluid Physics Experiment Facility (FPEF)Fluid Physics Experiment Facility (FPEF) - NASA Flywheel Exercise Device (FWED)Flywheel Exercise Device (FWED) - NASA Image Processing Unit (IPU)Image Processing Unit (IPU) - NASA Mice Drawer System Facility (MDS_Facility)Mice Drawer System Facility (MDS_Facility) - NASA Microgravity Vibration Isolation Subsystem (MVIS)Microgravity Vibration Isolation Subsystem (MVIS) - NASA Portable Astroculture Chamber (PASC)Portable Astroculture Chamber (PASC) - NASA Protein Crystal Growth - Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System (PCG-STES)Protein Crystal Growth - Single Locker Thermal Enclosure System (PCG-STES) - NASA Protein Crystallization Research Facility (PCRF)Protein Crystallization Research Facility (PCRF) - NASA Pulmonary Function System (PFS)Pulmonary Function System (PFS) - NASA Portable Glovebox (PGB)Portable Glovebox (PGB) - NASA Refrigerated Centrifuge (RC)Refrigerated Centrifuge (RC) - NASA Solution Crystallization Observation Facility (SCOF)Solution Crystallization Observation Facility (SCOF) - NASA